Spain international footballer Jenni Hermoso testified in court today, stating that the unwanted kiss from former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales after Spain’s 2023 Women’s World Cup victory ‘stained’ what should have been one of the happiest days of her life.
The 34-year-old striker, who played a crucial role in Spain’s 1-0 triumph over England in Sydney, recounted how Rubiales kissed her on the lips without her consent during the medal ceremony. She described the act as an abuse of power and an attack on her dignity as a woman.
Speaking before the Audiencia Nacional court in Madrid, Hermoso broke down in tears as she described how Rubiales and his aides allegedly pressured her into claiming the kiss was a ‘spur-of-the-moment’ gesture that had not affected her.
Rubiales, 47, is facing charges of sexual assault and coercion. Prosecutors have recommended a one-year prison sentence for the alleged assault and an additional 18 months if convicted of coercion.
Former Spain head coach Jorge Vilda, ex-men’s team director Albert Luque, and former Spanish FA marketing director Ruben Rivera also face charges of coercion and could receive 18-month prison sentences if found guilty.
Hermoso testified that from the very beginning, she wanted to denounce what had happened. Recalling the moment on the podium, she stated:
‘I told him, “What a blast we’ve had,” and he replied, “We’ve won this World Cup thanks to you.”‘
She then described how Rubiales grabbed her head forcefully and kissed her:
‘It was a split second. I felt it was totally out of place. My boss was kissing me—something that should never happen in a professional setting.’
When asked if she felt ‘abused’ as a woman, she responded:
‘Yes, I felt completely disrespected. Luis Rubiales never asked if I wanted a kiss before he kissed me. It was a moment that stained one of the happiest days of my life.’
Hermoso also revealed that she was pressured almost immediately to downplay the incident. She was allegedly shown a pre-written statement claiming she had willingly accepted the kiss, which she refused to sign.
‘I skim-read it and immediately knew I hadn’t written a word of it. The statement suggested we were friends and that the kiss was just excitement. I did not agree to it being released.’
She also described an encounter with Rubiales on a stopover in Doha, where he pleaded with her to support him publicly.
‘He asked me to record a video with him because of the backlash. He said, “Please, my two daughters are crying in the back of the plane.” I refused. I told him I wasn’t responsible for the situation.’
Hermoso detailed the immense pressure and harassment she faced following the incident:
‘I felt totally unprotected in what should have been my safe space—my team. No one asked if I needed anything; instead, they focused on protecting their own image.’
She described how media scrutiny forced her to flee Madrid:
‘From the moment I returned to Spain, I was followed constantly. I received death threats. My family and I had to leave Madrid because the situation became unbearable. My life changed from that moment on.’
When asked how many times she was pressured to release a statement in Rubiales’ defense, she replied:
‘Too many to count. The situation prevented me from enjoying being a World Champion.’
Rubiales’ daughters, who were on the flight back to Spain, are scheduled to testify in his defense next Monday as the case continues to unfold.